To Grayson's dismay, Finneas was smart enough not to fall for the trap.Finneas wasted no time in exposing Grayson. "Trying to get something out of me? Not a chance! It doesn't matter what you want to know about her, but you can only ask me when you have truly fallen for her," said Finneas. Grayson felt helpless. Having a smart grandfather wasn't entirely a good thing sometimes.He said, "We can never force someone when it comes to relationships. Nothing good will come from forceful feelings. I don't like Belle. I didn't like her and will never like her."Patiently, Finneas said, "I'm not forcing you to like her. Just give yourselves some time and get along with her. You might not like her right now, but we can't say anything about the future."Suspicious, Grayson turned his gaze to Finneas. "Grandpa, let's be honest. Is your concern for her primarily because of her background?""That's not the sole reason, but it is the primary one."The persistent Grayson didn't give up. He
Belle's origin was noble, and it would be unwise to underestimate her as she held significant influence.It wouldn't be an exaggeration to assert that she was the only woman in this world who could be of Grayson's help. Other women were basically useless to him.It was just that Finneas couldn't reveal everything to Grayson yet.Finneas sighed. "I'm old. I wonder how much time I have left. The person I'm worried about most is you. I can only rest assured after I entrust you to Belle."Words failed Grayson. He found it preposterous that someone like Belle was appointed to care for him; it appeared more logical the other way around. He couldn't fathom his grandfather's reasoning.He didn't refute his grandfather. He merely said, "You're not old. You're still young."Finneas smiled at that.They continued their small talk. Although they held different opinions regarding Belle—and Finneas even smacked the back of Grayson's head because of her—they shared a good relationship. Anyone
The silence lasted for a few moments. The corner of Belle's lips twitched. "Grandpa, are you serious about that?""Yes. That's my only wish."Working at Page Corporation was equivalent to losing freedom!Furthermore, Grayson went to work every single day. If she worked there, it meant she would see him every day!The mere thought of it sent a shiver down her spine.Meeting him at night was annoying enough, yet she needed to see him during the day as well? She would be irritated all day long!Belle asked, "Grandpa, can you wish for another thing?"Finneas shook his head. "No. This is my only wish for now."Bringing her the share transfer agreement was an excuse. He had two objectives for that visit.First, he wanted to know how far the couple had progressed; second, he wanted to tell her his wish.It was true that there were changes in Grayson's feelings for Belle, but that took months. Finneas felt the urgency to create opportunities for them to spend more time together and
Sam was stunned. "Ms. Walters?""Do you have anything to say about it?" asked Grayson."Not at all. I'll go and make the necessary arrangements right now."After ending the call, Sam widened his eyes in surprise. He couldn't believe that Belle would work in the company—in the secretarial department, too.It was definitely a piece of breaking news!That also meant that Grayson and Belle would be together 24 hours daily.Sam felt a shiver running down his spine.After all, the duo would break out into a fight at the drop of a hat. Sam wondered what he should do if they fought in the office.Plus, if everyone in the company knew how Belle treated Grayson, he would be a laughing stock!Sam didn't understand why Grayson would allow Belle to work at the company.However, Sam soon realized Grayson was unlikely to be behind that idea. Sam wondered if Belle was the one who suggested it.Belle disliked Grayson a lot. She couldn't have offered to work at the company. Sam didn't know
Simon frowned and asked, "What happened?"With all the recent troubles in the Sylvester family, his nerves were already on edge.Simon was even more anxious after hearing that something terrible happened. His mind was buzzing so intensely that it felt on the verge of exploding!Belle furrowed her brows. She wondered if the Sylvester family could still withstand any more blows.The servant spoke anxiously, panting, "Mr. Patrick Strauss is in a critical condition! Both Mr. Strauss and Mr. Quinn are here with him and need to see Mrs. Jenkins Senior urgently!""What?" Simon jumped up from his seat. "What happened to Mr. Patrick Strauss?""He is critically ill!"Simon was stunned. "Where are they?"Before the servant could respond, Robert and Scott entered the living room, their footsteps quick and heavy.Robert's countenance was alarming as he strode in, clad in a dark suit. "Where is Mrs. Jenkins Senior?" he inquired of Simon while holding a child in his arms.The tremor in his
Belle didn't reply. Instead, she placed her fingers on Patrick's pulse.She furrowed her brows in concentration. "He only has ten minutes at most!" she told Robert with a stern expression.Robert's breath hitched.Scott widened his eyes. "What do you mean?"Belle said straightforwardly, "He is in critical condition right now. He'll be gone before you guys can reach the foot of the mountain."Robert was getting increasingly anxious."What nonsense are you spouting?" Scott was furious.Belle didn't answer him. Instead, she looked at Robert. "Give me a few minutes. I can save him!"Robert asked, "Do you know how?"Belle replied, "My grandfather is a doctor."Simon suddenly thought of something. "That's right! I heard Grandma mentioning her grandfather before. Our family and her family have been friends for a few generations. I'm sure he's quite a capable doctor," he quickly added.Robert stared at Belle briefly before replying, "Thank you! However, I can only give you ten minut
Ten minutes later, the lounge's door was pushed open. Belle was already inserting the last needle."How is he?" Simon and Scott asked in unison.Belle didn't answer. Instead, she looked at Simon. "Bring me the bedpan."Simon hurriedly did as told.Belle sat beside the bed and assisted Patrick in sitting up. She gently pressed her fingers against his back for a moment. Then, she applied more pressure and patted him vigorously.All of a sudden, Patrick expelled a large clot of blood.Beside him, Robert's expression darkened.Scott widened his eyes. "What happened?"Simon comprehended the situation. "Stay calm! Observe the color of the blood. It's black. These are toxins within his system. Ms. Walters is assisting Patrick in purging the toxins from his bloodstream."Robert wore a grave expression and remained silent. His gaze was fixed on Patrick with evident concern.After vomiting out more blood, Patrick gradually opened his eyes.Scott was thrilled. "He's awake! Patrick is a
Belle said, "It seems like an allergy, but I can't determine the specific allergen. You'll need to go to the hospital to check for the allergens. Do take note and be more cautious in the future."Robert frowned as he wondered what Patrick was allergic to.It was Patrick's first allergic reaction after so many years. This meant that he had only come into contact with the allergen today.Robert tried to recall the new things Patrick might have been exposed to today. However, nothing in particular came up for the moment."I'll get someone to investigate once I get back. Does he still need to take any medicine?"Belle shook her head and replied, "No need for now. He's just frail and needs some rest. If he experiences anything like this in the future, he can continue taking the medicine prescribed by Mrs. Jenkins Senior. Her prescriptions are reliable." "Okay!" Robert added after a moment, "I'll keep in mind that I owe you a favor. No matter what you encounter in the future, you only
Belle playfully reached for Sixteen again. "Come here!"Sixteen barked back, seemingly firm in his stance. "I'll cry if you don't come here, okay?" Belle then held her face in her hands and pretended to cry.Sixteen immediately calmed down as it nudged Belle's hands with its paws, trying to comfort her. Belle broke character, revealing a grin. "Are you still mad at me?"Sixteen, appeased, finally got into her arms and launched into enthusiastic licks.Grayson watched the exchange with a hint of envy. "Hey, Sixteen!"Sixteen whimpered and offered Grayson a sheepish look.Belle scolded, "Why are you scolding Sixteen? You're a bad guy!"She then petted Sixteen on its head and stood up. "Let's go! We'll get something tasty to eat! Just ignore him, okay?"Grayson was left speechless. He felt defeated by the pet dog as he watched Belle and Sixteen skip and hop into the house.Meredith had already finished preparing dinner when they arrived. She put on a gentle smile as she watched Belle
After returning to the house, Ava asked, "Why did Xenia go crazy? Wasn't she fine not long ago?"Lena wiped her hands and handed the towel back to Ava. "Someone drugged her and induced hallucinations of her worst fears. She's been on the edge ever since. After all, she did commit all sorts of misdeeds." "Someone?""Belle Walters."Ava was shocked. "Why would Belle drug Xenia?"Ava and Lena had been moving from place to place, seeking a safe hideout ever since they picked up Xenia. They had only found a relatively safe place today, so Ava finally had the chance to inquire about the details.Lena shot her a look of disgust and proceeded to ignore her question.Ava dared not press further and changed the topic. "Now that Xenia's lost her mind, can we still get her to talk?"Lena continued to ignore her and went to scribble down a prescription. She had spent the entire day with Xenia in the basement but hadn't managed to extract any useful information from her. Ava sheepishly c
Meanwhile, Ginger, too, was grappling with confusion. She'd also offered Hunter money, only to be stunned into silence by the astronomical sum in his bank statement. Compared to him, she was practically penniless. The largest amount she'd ever held was a few million Gabriel had won in the lottery—a drop in the bucket compared to Hunter's wealth."Why do you think Mr. Sanders was so wealthy?" Ginger queried, seeking Gabriel's insight.Gabriel was similarly grappling with confusion and remained quiet. However, he was preoccupied with a different mystery. His mind was consumed by the deaths of Penny and Terry. He had taken time to visit the corpses and noted the peculiarity surrounding their deaths. Their autopsies revealed unusual injuries that baffled forensics.Both victims, young adults in their prime, looked as if they'd been scared to death.Aware of Hunter's ties to the Nightwalkers, Gabriel wasn't surprised by the inheritance. Compared to the wealth amassed during the Sanders f
Belle pondered aloud, "While Hunter isn't as averse to exploring tombs as Benjamin, they share a similar disposition. Otherwise, with his expertise, he could easily be making a fortune.""The Sanders ancestors might not have been saints," Grayson conceded, "but perhaps Hunter's grandfather started a positive trend. Like Benjamin, he likely tried to shield Hunter from their legacy. A truly evil man couldn't have raised such a kind son."As Benjamin grew, he remained kind-hearted despite his timidity. And now, Hunter has grown into an upright, kind, and courageous young man. His talent for exploration makes him the pride of his lineage."Belle nodded and sighed. "Money is crucial for a comfortable life today. With what Hunter has, financial worries shouldn't trouble him. He'll be well provided for."Grayson pulled her into his arms and responded, "Don't fret. While Hunter may still be in school, he's mature for his age. He can take care of himself just fine."Belle leaned onto his s
Hunter crouched by the bed, methodically clearing away the books until a single floor tile lay exposed. Prying it open revealed a dark hole just big enough for one person. Grabbing a flashlight, he squeezed through the narrow opening and emerged into a moderately sized room of perhaps about 130 square feet. Wooden boxes, weathered with age and adorned with simple designs, filled the space.Hunter made a beeline for a particular box, brushing off the dust before prying it open. The wooden box was filled to the brim with notebooks. Hunter sat down on the floor, picked up one of the books, and started reading it.This hidden chamber and its contents were discovered by a young Hunter, seemingly guided by destiny. Hunter's father, Benjamin, had buried them, driven by a desire to safeguard their knowledge from Hunter's curious gaze. Fear had gripped Benjamin after learning about the Sanders family's history, the expertise that had seemingly drawn them toward a dangerous path. He
Nora let out a long sigh. "It's fine. Just keep it with you! I don't really need the money right away or anything. Besides, an old woman like me won't be spending much in town even if I tried."Hunter stopped Nora as she was about to leave and took a wad of money from his bag. "I have 20,000 dollars right here. It's far from the actual price, but you can keep it for now. I'll pay you the rest when I can."Nora was stunned. "Where did you get so much money?""It's the money I gathered from donations for the funeral, mostly from Ms. Belle and Mr. Grayson.""Oh, that makes sense. Here I was, wondering how you managed to get such a huge amount from donations. I can tell your friends are really kind-hearted people. You should treat them just as well as they treat you, okay? Study hard and make a name for yourself, and then you'll be able to properly repay their kindness.""Yeah, I know. Anyway, the gold nugget weighs slightly over 17 ounces. So, its worth is about 37,500 dollars. I'll pay y
As the final step of the funeral, the townsfolk gathered for a meal after Benjamin's burial. After Benjamin was buried, Belle and Ginger approached Hunter, inquiring about his plans for the future. Belle expressed her desire for Hunter to stay with her and Grayson, mentioning that their house had plenty of spare rooms. The only drawback would be that it was quite the distance from his school, but they could always arrange a driver for him.Ginger also invited Hunter to stay with her and Gabriel as their house had just finished with renovations. They also had a spare room for Hunter if he were to join their house.Hunter was genuinely touched by their offers, but he still declined them both. "I'd like to stay in my school's hostel for now. I'll think about what to do next when I graduate."Belle and Ginger recognized that they couldn't sway Hunter's decision, so they ceased their attempts to pressure him into making a choice."If you run out of space for your belongings, you ca
Hunter detailed, "I recall every person who came to offer prayers for my father... However, it was during my trip to the restroom that the dogs began barking. Upon my return, I spotted some unfamiliar footprints. Without seeing anyone there, I dismissed it. But upon hearing about Penny and Terry's deaths this morning, I began to connect the dots..."Both Gabriel and Grayson were left speechless.Gabriel exchanged a glance with Grayson before turning back to Hunter. "So, you're suggesting that the stranger who came to town also visited your house to pray for your father before departing to exact revenge on Penny and Terry for Mr. Sanders' death?""Yes.""Why didn't he meet you then?""I don't know.""Any other suspects you have in mind?"Hunter shook his head. "My father and I don't have friends other than you guys. It's just the two of us for as long as I can remember.""Could it be someone else from the Sanders family?" asked Gabriel."I don't think so. I'm an only child, and
Belle, Ginger, and the rest of the group arrived at 8:00 am. They noticed the crowd alongside police cars at the entrance to the town. The two of them then squeezed through the crowd to make it to the house as soon as they could. "What happened, Hunter?"The policemen were stunned by their sudden arrival. "Who are you?""We're Hunter's friends. You can tell us about what happened."Hunter's eyes gleamed with hope as he greeted them. "Ms. Belle and Ms. Ginger!"Grayson's car stopped in front of the town alongside a truck filled with equipment for the funeral.Without Belle and Grayson's friendship, Hunter would have had to manage all the funeral arrangements alone, and he wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet Ginger.Sam remained outside to stand guard while Grayson and Gabriel entered the Sanders family's old home.The townsfolk and the police were shocked when they saw them.They didn't recognize Grayson or Gabriel, but they could tell at a glance that they were really special peo